At Home With Valerie

As December draws to a close, many of us are hastily composing New Year's Resolutions.   I know I make them every year.  Mine used to be the same old clichés: Go to the gym every day, cut back on calories... And there's nothing wrong with these old resolutions.  Many of us could stand to exercise more often or get rid of some bad habits.  But there's more to life than a drive for physical improvement. That's why I've recently begun putting a new twist on my resolutions.  I've found carrying out these new resolutions so much more fulfilling that I thought it might be worth sharing some of them with others.  Here are a few of my personal favorites: Spend more quality time with your family. Make sure your loved ones know how much you love them. Share a kindness with passing strangers. Make an effort to appreciate everyone for who they are. Be slower to anger, and more thoughtful in your responses. Try some fun n

Christmas morning is often a busy one, especially with kids or family visiting from out of town crowding the house.   Putting together a great meal for the morning is something many people don't want to take on in the midst of gift wrapping and preparations for a big dinner as well.    Try one of these easy make-ahead ideas so that Christmas morning is relaxing and easy. Breakfast Casseroles A breakfast casserole lets you get together all of the elements of a complete breakfast into one dish and simply slip it in the oven to bake come Christmas morning.  There are a number of easy and delicious recipes from which to choose. A simple breakfast casserole can be made by layering scrambled eggs, cooked potatoes, crumbled sausage, and cheese.  Simply put it together ahead of time and refrigerate.  In the morning, it needs only to be heated up in the oven and will be ready to serve within half an hour. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls There's nothing quite like a w

All of us like to help out when we can. Whether it’s volunteering our time, or providing funds for those in need, the spirit of charity is vital for a healthy, caring community.  If you want to give, but don’t know where to start, here are some ways to evaluate causes that can use your help. There are those in this world who do not enjoy the comforts of home. Those who lack the fundamentals of food, shelter, and safety. During the holiday season it can be easy to overlook the less fortunate, even when they’re right here in our own communities. Like many in real estate, I support causes I believe in with donations of time and money. There is nothing quite as satisfying as giving back and knowing that what I give makes a difference in the lives of others. If you’re new to supporting causes, you may have some doubts about whether or not your donations go to the people who are most in need. There are many organizations out there which claim to support a cause, but

As we enjoy the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the season when family and friends gather, and the big picture in terms of how we're all expected to get along on this increasingly crowded planet of ours. The holidays often put people around the table who may not normally see one another throughout the year. Far flung relatives, cousins, in-laws, and other guests-of-guests may come from all walks of life. Their political, religious, and social viewpoints may differ widely from our own. Yet when we see them during the holidays, we do our best to tolerate differences. Ideally, we look for ways to connect rather than provoke arguments. Tolerance is not always the easiest value to embrace. Now, especially, we can find ourselves thrust into polemic arguments driven by political and media forces which command enormous attention and influence. Social media and a profound lack of face-to-face interaction makes it easier to distance ourselv

Natural gas is a safe, effective energy source, but there are times when a leak can threaten lives and property. Share this post about spotting and protecting yourself from natural gas leaks. With the winter months upon us, it's especially important to be on the lookout for gas leaks. Heaters which may not have been used recently, lines which may have been damaged in storms... they can all be the source of gas leaks. I wanted to offer you these tips, shared by Pacific Gas & Electric in California. Did you know that an underground utility is damaged in America every eight minutes? Gas lines are among the most frequently damaged utilities. Here’s how you can spot a natural gas leak: Smell: Natural gas supply is mixed with a sulfuric "rotten egg" smell. This way, even small amounts of gas may be detected. Sound: Hissing, whistling, or "roaring" coming from underground or a gas appliance may be an indication of a gas leak. Sight: Th

It's wonderful having friends and family at your home to share the holidays, but it can also be a lot of work.   Hosting for the holidays comes with some challenges that are best met with preparation and an extra dose of patience.  Here are a few quick tips to get your home ready for your holiday visitors. Overnight Company Whether you are expecting guests to spend the night or a surprise visit leaves you scrambling to find bedding for everyone, the simplest way to deal with it is to keep an air bed on hand.  Today's air beds are a lot more comfortable than they were in the past, and you can buy a quality raised air bed for less than a hundred dollars.  A raised air bed will keep guests off the floor and will feel more like a real bed. A deflated air bed can be stored easily and blown up in a matter of minutes, so you can save space and still have a comfortable guest bed when you need it.  Having an extra in the house comes in handy for all sorts of holiday g

The first known use of stairs was in ancient Egypt during the building of the pyramids. Chances are, some workers back then tripped and fell on them. Some 3,000 years later, injuries on stairs are still a big problem. According to the Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, the insurance cost of injuries from falls on stairs is second only to automobile accidents! Clearly, it's a bigger problem than most people imagine. So how do you prevent trips, falls and other mishaps on stairs? The most common way is to use handrails. In fact, most trips and falls occur when people aren't able to regain their balance because they are not holding a handrail. Another source of accidents are items, such as toys, left on stairs. Some people have the bad habit of using stairs as a temporary shelf for books, magazines, mail and other items. That’s not a good idea! Always be careful when carrying heavy items on stairs. Even an overloaded laundry basket can be a hazard.

I love Christmas stories and Christmas traditions and nothing is more fascinating then how the Official White house Christmas Tree came to be. The tradition of a placing a decorated tree in the White House began in 1889 on Christmas morning during the Presidency of Benjamin Harrison.  The President's grandchildren, young Benjamin and Mary McKee, led the Harrison household into the second floor Oval Room to take a look at the first White House Christmas tree, which was lit with candles. Filled stockings hung from the mantel, and presents, candy and nuts were distributed to family and staff. President Harrison gave turkeys and gloves to his employees, and he received a silver dollar- shaped picture holder from his daughter, Mame Harrison McKee. What began as a family gathering has become a national tradition. Over the years, the White House Christmas tree has reflected both the times and the tastes of the First Family. First Lady Frances Cleveland created a "

Do you get writer's block when you sit down to write holiday cards? If you’re like many people, writing holiday cards can be a nerve wracking experience. You want your message to be memorable, but you may become hung up on finding the perfect thing to say. Instead of focusing on perfection, remember the spirit of the season and channel generosity with these five tips. Start on a positive note. Beginning your note with “ Happy Holidays,” “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” etc. will set a bright, positive tone for the rest of the card. Example: Happy Holidays from the Jones family! Our year has been full of many blessings. Remember, it’s a note not a novel. Although it’s tempting to recount everything that happened during the year, try to stick to the highlights. Focus on one or two memorable things such as a job promotion, a fun family vacation or your son getting into his dream college. Example: We had a great time hiking thr

You may love animals, but with the exception of your family pets, you don’t want them in your home. Here are some tips for keeping the wildlife around your property where it belongs: outside. Don’t place bird feeders too close to your windows. Doing so may cause birds to associate a window with food and therefore try to peck their way inside. Make sure window screens are secure. If you can push a screen loose with your hand, so can a bird or other animal. Check screens on dryer vents and chimneys. If they are damaged, fix or replace them. To determine how animals are entering your home, stuff wadded paper in the suspected entry point. If the paper is disturbed the next day, you’ll know where they got in. Never leave food outside, unattended. After a barbeque, for example, take all remaining food inside. Follow these simple steps and you will reduce the risk of having unexpected visitors to your home.

Preparing your home and property for cold weather conditions and responding to them effectively can reduce some of the effects caused by winter's weather challenges. Experts agree that the following measures can be effective in dealing with the effects of severe winter weather: Have your snow removal equipment serviced and ready for action. Have rock salt on hand to melt ice on walkways. Make sure your walls and attic are properly insulated. Caulk and weather strip doors and windows. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside. Have an ample supply of wood if you have a fireplace. Have safe portable space heaters available. Wrap water pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers to keep from freezing. Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing. Know how to shut off water valves. In case the power goes out, have disaster supplies on hand suc

As Fall gives way and Winter begins to make its present felt, this is the time of year when we approach the holiday season.  Many home owners thinking of selling typically wait during this period because of the mistaken belief that the market is slowing down and they may not be successful in selling their home this time of year. If you are considering selling your home but are hesitant to do so, here are 12 reasons why listing during the holiday season might be your best bet. Buyers who are looking in November and December are typically very serious home Buyers. Smaller supply for Buyers to choose from… better odds than at any other time of the year for a home Seller. Number of homes for sale in January and on will increase dramatically. A home that is decorated for the Holidays shows very well! Holiday emotionalism is also at a peak for home Buyers… more open to higher prices. Buyers looking during th

If you need to decide whether you should renovate or move, start by reviewing your home and identifying what is currently lacking. Then determine what it would cost to improve it.  Consider overall upgrades, such as new windows, a new roof, or new HVAC and security systems.  Then examine each room and determine how improvements could benefit your family’s living environment, now and in the future. You might even consider the possibility of adding one or more rooms. With estimated renovation costs in hand, have a brief consultation with your REALTOR ® who will be able to add the estimated cost of affordable renovations to your home’s appraised market value. This will give you a rough idea of how much you might be willing to spend on your next home, provided it has all of your desired features. If such desirable homes are price over the cost of your current home after upgrades, you might be better off renovating. Your renovations may even add more selling value than th

The cold is coming, and in some places it is already here. If you haven’t done so yet, take advantage of some simple tune-ups you can make around the house to dramatically lower your heating bill. The laws of thermodynamics can be expensive. When the big winter weather arrives, the heat can leach from your home through a variety of obvious and unexpected ways, resulting in high heating bills. Wouldn’t you rather put that money into holiday shopping or upgrades for your house? The most obvious culprits are in plain sight: Doors and windows. The weatherstripping around doors shouldn’t admit any light, and when it comes to windows, you’ll want to look for holes in the caulking. You could even upgrade your windows to double-pane, or go with storm windows to improve insulation. But the less obvious and less dramatic options are available to you, too. Here are 5 tips you may not have thought of when it comes to heating leaks and your overall energy spend: 1. Cover up your wate

In a seller’s market, multiple offers are not uncommon. But what does that really mean?  And how should you and your agent work together to generate the most interest in a multiple offer situation? Find out more in my post…  When inventory is tight and a market heats up, sellers often dream of finding themselves in a multiple offer situation. In a multiple offer situation, more than one potential buyer submits a written offer on the home. With multiple offers on a property, the listing agent can then try and “shop the top offer” in order to try and get the best deal possible for their client. If you live in a hot market, how do you structure your listing in such a way that you get the best possible offers in a multiple offer situation? One strategy for cultivating multiple offers is letting buyers know that the seller will only entertain offers on a certain date. Rather than deal with offers dribbling in one at a time, there’s a deadline for offers. When this happens

Even if you don’t have kids, the quality of a school district can have a direct impact on the value of your home.  If you’re buying and you want to make sure your home is in a good district, use these criteria to see if your the local district makes the grade. Given the way most communities work, the location of a home dictates the local school district. The quality of the school district can have a direct impact on the value of your home. Even if you don’t have kids or don’t have to plan kids, the quality of the local schools can positively or negatively effect your home’s value. Buyers tend to prefer homes in good school districts, either because they have school-aged children, or they are thinking of resale value down the line. So how do you know if your local schools make the grade? What signs point towards an improving or declining school district? Here are a five things you’ll want to consider: 1. Test scores. It’s a basic measurement of student performance an

When would you talk to a car salesperson? Probably only once you’re ready to buy a new car. You would do some initial research (perhaps on the internet), get an idea of what you want, and then go to the dealership to meet a salesperson, test drive the car and make the purchase. Although that approach may work when you’re buying a car, it’s not the best approach when it comes to real estate. You see, successfully buying or selling a home requires a lot of planning and legwork. You want the process to go smoothly, the right decisions to be made, and the best possible deal to be negotiated.   After all, this is the purchase and/or sale of your home! So, the best time to talk to a REALTOR ® is as early in the process as possible. In fact, even if you’re just thinking of buying or selling — and simply want to explore the possibility of making a move sometime this year — you should have a conversation with a good REALTOR ® . A REALTOR ® will answer your questions

When you’re putting your property on the market, you want to make it seem as big and comfortable as possible. Let’s face it. Buyers are attracted to space. However, you probably have at least one room in your home — and perhaps even more — that feels small and a little cramped. Of course you don’t want the buyer’s first impression of the room to be its size. But it isn’t practical to be knocking down walls and renovating. So what do you do? Here are some ideas for making small spaces seem larger and more comfortable: Remove any items and extra furniture that make the room feel smaller than it really is. Remove any obstructions near the entranceway. You should be able to open the door fully and walk in without banging into a desk or bookshelf. Don’t use heavy curtains on the windows. Let the light in. Use soft light bulbs with enough wattage to fill the room with full and pleasant (but not blinding) light. Less is more. Kee